Pocketbook, hand bag, and the like



Dec. 12, 1933. 5. J ROBBlNs r AL 1,939,276

POCKETBOOK, HAND BAG, AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1933 2 Shoe ts-Sheet l y I I 7/ new l fimwffidna DH; 1933- s .1. ROBBINS ET AL 1,939,276

\ POCKETBOOK, HAND BAG, AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 12, 1 933 UNITED STATES 1,939,276 POCKETBOOK, HAND BAG, AND THE LIKE Samuel J. Robbins and Rudolph Staufert, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Robbins .8; Staufert, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application March 6, 1933. Serial No. 659,886

'13 Claims.

The invention relates to pocketbooks and handbags and particularly such articles which employ exterior open end pockets which may be automatically and efliciently closed and locked with 5 the aid of the holding strap of the pocketbook or handbag.

The primary object of the invention is to construct and place the handle or holding strap of the pocketbook or handbag in such a. relationship to the outside wall of the exterior pocket and the main wallor body portion of the pocketbook or handbag, so that the exterior pocket is substantially and for all practical purposes made into two separate exterior pockets when the hand of the user is normally placed between the holding strap and the outside wall of the pocket thereby causing the outside wall of the pocket to be pressed by the fingers of the user against the main wall or body portion of the pocketbook or handbag and locking the pockets.

By means of the invention the exterior pocket of the pocketbook or handbag may be asingle pocket or may be a double pocket without actually having a partition to transform the single pocket into a double pocket. Transformation of the single pocket into the double pocket arrangement is accomplished by the action of the strap and its manner of fastening to the walls of the pocketbook or handbag together with the action of the hand or fingers of the user when the pocketbook or handbag is being held or carried.

It is an object of the invention to so construct the handle strap of the bag that when in normal use the handle strap shall close the exterior pocket of the pocketbook or handbag, and although one end of the handle strap is fastened to the main body portion of the bag, it will not pull on the main body portion sufficiently to open or displace the cover or flap of the pocketbook or the frame of the handbag. a

It is an object of the invention to place th holding strap on the back part or rear face of the pocketbook or handbag and not on the front face or flap of the pocketbook, or the front face .of the handbag, and preferably not to have any portion of the hand or holding strap extend beyond the top edge of the pocketbook or handbag.

It is a further object of the invention to construct the holding strap in such a manner and of such dimensions as will permit quick and ready access into the exterior pocket and yet in its normal use will close the outside wall of the exterior pocket so tightly against the main wall of the pocketbook or handbag that various articles usually required to be readily accessible such as gloves, hen'dkereh'iefs, railroad tickets. street car transfers. or paper currency may be tightly held in both compartments or sections of the exterior pocket.

It has been found in the operation of the invention that many articles which heretofore have been carried by users in the interior pockets of the pocketbook or handbag but which could not be safely carried in an exterior pocket because of the liability of loss, may now be carried conveniently, accessibly and safely in the exterior pocket and held firmly against displacement or loss. This is particularly true with reference to articles such as have been mentioned above which could not heretofore be safely and securely held in the exterior pocket of the ordinary pocketbook or handbag where the top end of the holding strap was secured to the upper outer surface of the exterior pocket wall and pulls the pocket wall from the main wall exposing the contents of the pocket instead of the present cons uction where the upper end of the holding Strap is fastened to the main wall or body portion of the pocketbook or handbag and is used as has been described.

A modified form of the invention which is so applicable to both the pocketbook and the hand bag consists in having a handle strap, the lower end of which may be removably held in'place against the outside wall of the exterior pocket by a snap fastener arrangement or other desirable arrangement. By means of this construction when the lower end of the strap is released the exterior pocket may be entered with less interference than in the case where both ends of the holding strap are permanently fastened 9f although the operation of the twoiorms when the ends are in place is substantially identical.

Another modified structure of hand or holding strap employs a strap which is removably secured a to the walls of the pocketbook or handbag at both ends but otherwise its construction and operation is the same as those heretofore de scribed.

While the invention is particularly adaptable to women's pocketbooks and handbags, it will be we understood that the invention may be employed in connection with any luggage, brief case or other article where an exterior pocket and a handle strap may be employed.

The invention will be more readily understood lot when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing various modifications and embodiments of the invention, but it will be under-- stood that other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as 119 expressed in the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a pocketbook showing the rear pocket and the handle strap,

Figure 2 is a top view of the pocketbook showing the pocket, the handle strap and also showing in dotted lines a portion of the pocket and the handle strap extended by the fingers of the user,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the pocketbook with a portion of the pocketbook in section,

and also showing the rear pocket and the handle strap in section,

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of a handbag showing the exterior pocket and the handle p.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the handbag of Figure 4 showing the rear exterior pocket and the handle strap,

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the handbag of Figures 4 and 5 showing a portion of the rear pocket and the handle strap in section,

Figure 7 illustrates a portion of a pocketbook or handbag embodying a handle strap which is removably secured at its lower end,

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, and illustrates the rear pocket and the handle removably secured at its lower end,

Figure 9 is a rear elevational view of a portion of a pocketbook or handbag illustrating a handle removably secured at both its lower and upper ends, and

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view on the line 10-10 of Figure 9, and shows the exterior pocket and handle strap secured at both the lower and upper ends.

Like reference characters are given to the same parts in the various figures.

Referring to the womans pocketbook illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the main body portion extends downwardly to the rear of the pocketbook to form the rear wall 16 and extends downwardly at the front of the pocketbook to provide the front face or fiap 17. The front flap has secured to it the ornamental piece 18, which may assist in the closing and opening of the front flap 17 of the pocketbook.

The pocketbook is provided with the usual inner compartments or partitions and divisions, and is also provided with an exterior pocket 19 having the outside or exterior wall 20. The pocket wall.

20 extends downwardly from its top edge 21 having a line of stitching 22 adjacent thereto, to and around the bottom of the pocketbook to form an inner wall of the pocketbook shown at 23.

The handle strap 24 is permanently secured asshowninFigures 1,2and3totherearwall 16, and the pocket wall 20 of the pocketbook. The top end portion 25 of the handle strap is permanently secured to the rear wall 16 by means of stitching 26. The lower end portion 27 of the handle strap 24 is secured to the pocket wall 20 by means of the stitching 28. It will be understood that the stitching 28 extends across the handle strap, downwardly on both sides and across the bottom of the handle strap to thoroughly secure the lower end portion 2'7 of the handle strap to the bottom portion of the exterior pocket wall 20.

It will be seen that when the handle strap'24 of the pocketbook is not being used, that is, when the hand or the fingers of the user are not placed between the handle strap 24 and the pocket wall 20, the pocket wall 20 is not pressed against or toward the rear wall portion 16 of the pocketbook and therefore various articles such as gloves, handkerchiefs, railroad tickets, street car transfers, and paper currency may be inserted in the exterior pocket. Gloves shown in dotted lines 29 are shown in the pocket 19 at one side thereof and a handkerchief 30 at the other side thereof. When the hand or fingers of the hand are inserted between the handle strap 24, and the wall pocket 20, as more particularly shown in Figure 2, the handle strap 24 is extended outwardly as shown at 31 causing the wall portion 16 and the wall 20 to be closed against each other and to contact in such a manner as to close the pocket 19, and to form two compartments or pockets as shown at 32 and 33. The action of the hand or the fingers of the hand pressing the outside wall 20 of the pocket against the wall 16, while the upper end of the handle strap 24 pulls the upper portion of the rear wall 16 against the outside pocket wall 20 locks the pocket and securely holds the contents of the compartments 32 and 33 against displacement or loss.

It will be evident that by slight movement of the fingers to loosen the pocket wall 20 from the rear wall 16', the glovu, handkerchief, street car transfer, etc, may be easily and quickly extracted, or placed in the compartments and readily held in place until they are again wanted, all being done without opening or disturbing the front fiap 17 or mining the inner pockets or compartments of the pocketbook.

It will also be seen that at all times the handle strap 24 of the pocket book does not extend over or beyond the top edge of the-pocketbook nor interfere in any way with the front fiap .of the pocketbook, nor interfere in any way with the interior or main pockets or compartments of the pocketbook.

It will also be understood that the handle strap 24 of the pocketbook shall be of such a length as to permit the entry of the hand or fingers of the hand to hold the pocketbook by the handle strap or while locking the exterior pocket but it is not intended that the handle strap shall besolongthatitmaybeusedtocarrythe pocketbook on the wrist or the arm of the user.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6, a woman's handbag embodying the invention is illustrated. The handbag is provided with the frames 34 and 35 which are locked in the usual manner by the catch mechanism 36. The front wall 37 of the handbag is provided with the ornamental piece 36. The rear wall 39 of the handbag extends 13o downwardly and with the wall 40 forms the pocket 41.. The top edge of the pocket wall 40 is shown at 42 and this top edge has the stitching 43.

The construction and mode of operation of the handle strap and exterior pocket of the handbag of Figures 4, 5 and 6, is identical in every respect with the handle strap and exterior pocket of the pocketbook of Figures 1, 2 and 3, and since these features are identical they need not be further described.

Referring to the modified structures shown in Figures 7 and 8, the top end portion of the handle straps are permanently stitched at 26 in the same manner in which the top portions of the handle straps are secured'in Figures 1 and 3, and also Figures 4 and 6. The lower end of the handle strap is removably secured in place by the snap fastener 44 so that the handle strap may be lifted up and permit unobstructed access to the pocket, permit the insertion of the articles in the pocket and be fastened back in place whereupon the pocketbook or handbag, as the case may be, may be heldand operated in the same manner in which the pocketbook of Figure l and the handbag of Figure 4 are held and operated.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the handle strap may be entirely removed from the pocketbook or the handbag since the snap fasteners 45 and 46 are employed. The snap fastener 45 is at thev portion secured to said first body portion and forming an exterior pocket with an open end at the top, the top edge of said second body portion being below the top edge of the first mentioned body portion when the article is closed, a handle, the bottom portion of said handle being permanently secured to said smaller body portion and the top portion of said handle being permanently secured to the top portion of said first mentioned body portion, the location of said permanent fastening of the top portion of said handle and said body portion being below the top edge of said second mentioned body portion.

2. In an article of the class described, the combination of a main body portion, a second body portion secured across said main body portion, and forming an exterior pocket between said body portions, a handle, the lower end of the handle being secured to the lower portion of said second mentioned body member and the upper portion of the handle being secured to the top portion of said main body member when the article is closed, the total length of said handle when secured being less than the height of the main body portion.

3. In an article of the class described, the combination of a main body portion, a second body portion secured across said main body portion, and forming an exterior pocket between said bod portions, 'a handle, the lower end of the handle being secured to the lower portion of said second mentioned body member and the'uppor portion of the handle being permanently secured to the top portion of said main body member when the article is closed, the total length of said handle when secured being less than the height I of the main body portion.

4. m an article of the class described, a main body member, one portion thereof constituting the front face or flap of the article and another portion constituting the rear face or wall of the the front face or flap of the article and another portion constituting the rear face or wall of the article, an exterior pocket secured to said rear wall, said pocket being open at its top, said opening being below the top line of said rear face, a handle fastened to said rear wall and the wall of said pocket, one end of said handle being permanently secured to the lower portion of the pocket wall and the other end of said handle being permanently secured to the upper portion of said main rear wall member, the location of the securing of said last mentioned end of said handle being below the top line of the exterior pocket wall.

6. In an article of the class described, a main body member, one portion thereof constituting the front face or flap of the article and another portion constituting the rear face or wall of the article, an exterior pocket secured to said rear wall, said pocket being open at its top, said opening being below the top line of said rear face, a handle fastened to said rear wall and the wall of said pocket, one end of said handle being permanently secured to the lower portion of the pocket wall and the other end of said handle being permanently secured to the main rear wall member, the location of the securing of said last mentioned end of said handle being below the top line of the exterior pocket wall, said handle being of such a dimension that no part thereof can extend to the top line of said rear face.

7. In an article of the class described, the combination of a main body portion, a second body portion secured to said first body portion and forming an exterior pocket wall with an open end at the top, the top edge of said second member being below the top edge of the first mentioned body portion, a handle, one end of said handle being permanently secured to the upper portion of said main body portion and the other end of said handle being removably secured to the lower portion of said exterior pocket wall, the location of said permanent fastening of said handle lying below the top edge of said pocket wall.

8. In an article of the class described, a main body member, one portion thereof constituting the front face or flap of the article and another portion constituting the rear face or wall of the article, an exterior pocket secured to said rear wall, said pocket being open at its top, said opening being below the top line of said rear face, a handle, said handle being fastened to said rear wall and the wall of said pocket, one end of said handle being removably secured to the top portion of said rear face and the other end of said handle being removably secured to the lower portion of said second element forming a wall or exterior pocket and which said handle strap is of such a length that it can not extend beyond the top line of said rear face.

9. In an article of the class described the combination of two main walls each being surmounted with a frame, a lock for said frame, an exterior pocket on one of said walls, the pocket being open ended at its top, the top line of the pocket being below the top line of the frame of said wall, a handle, one end of the handle being permanently secured to the bottom portion of said pocket wall and the top portion of the handle being permanently secured to the top portion of the main wall to which said pocket is secured.

10. In an article of the class described, the comblnation of a main rear wall, a second wall secured to said main rear wall and forming an exterior pocket, both walls being flexible, a handle, said handle having one end secured to the bottom portion of said pocket wall and the other end secured to the top portion of said main rear wall, said handle being flexible whereby when the hand or fingers of the user are inserted be tween said wall pocket and said handle, said exterior pocket wall is automatically forced against said main rear wall. 7

11. In an article 01' the class described, the combination of a main rear wall, a second wall secured to said main rear wall and forming an exterior pocket, both walls being flexible, a handle, said handle having one end permanently secured to the bottom portion of said pocket wall and the other end permanently secured to the top portion oi said main rear wall, said handle being flexible whereby when the hand or fingers of the user are inserted between said wall pocket and said handle, said exterior pocket wall is automatically forced against said main rear wall.

12. In an article 01 the class described, the combination of a main rear wall, a second wall secured to said main rear wall and forming an exterior pocket, both walls being flexible, a handle, said handle having one end secured to the bottom portion of said pocket wall and the other end permanently secured to the top portion 01' said main rear wall, said handle being flexible whereby when the hand or fingers oi the user are inserted between said wall pocket and said handle, said exterior pocket wall is automatically forced against said main rear wall, the location of the fastening of said upper portion of said handle being below the upper line of said exterior pocket wall.

13. In an article of the class described, the combination of a main rear wall, a second wall secured to said main rear wall and forming an exterior pocket. both walls being flexible, a handle, said handle having one end secured to the bottom portion of said pocket wall and the other end permanently secured to the top portion or said main rear wall, said handle being fiexible whereby when the hand or fingers of the user are inserted between said wall pocket and said handle, said exterior pocket wall is automatically forced against said main rear wall, said handle being of such a dimension that it can not extend beyond the top line of said main rear wall.

SAMUEL J. ROBBINS. RUDOLPH STAUFERT. 

